The hottest Economic Impact Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
Category
Top World Politics Topics

Big News! The Rapid Screen Pilots have arrived

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 119 implied HN points • 18 Dec 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic Management Public Health Testing Economic Impact Innovations
  1. The CDL Rapid Screening Consortium, led by Creative Destruction Lab and 12 companies, is implementing rapid antigen screens to enable daily screening to identify and isolate infectious individuals and protect others.
  2. The consortium aims to make rapid screening a part of daily life in Canada, with workers and visitors being frequently screened, helping to minimize exposure and bring economies back to normality.
  3. The initiative addresses the challenge of scaling pandemic management efforts, focusing on ongoing, regular screening to ensure a safer environment and eventually bringing back normalcy to daily life.

no. 43: too good to refuse

let them eat cake • 59 implied HN points • 21 Aug 21
💼 Business Real Estate Restaurants Urban Development Property Rights Economic Impact
  1. Property rights in real estate are distributed in ways that differ from typical property, with value determined by the surrounding environment.
  2. Restaurants play a significant role in gentrifying neighborhoods, contributing to their perceived desirability and financial value.
  3. Developers often provide incentives for restaurants to move in, as it can increase the overall value of the property and provide branding for the neighborhood.
Get a weekly roundup of the best Substack posts, by hacker news affinity:

#21: The consequences of inaction

The Uncertainty Mindset (soon to become tbd) • 119 implied HN points • 25 Mar 20
🏥 Health Politics Public Health Pandemic response Health Systems Policy decisions Economic Impact
  1. Taking extreme measures early to control a virus might seem unreasonable, but it can save lives and prevent bigger problems later on.
  2. Not acting quickly can lead to more deaths, a sicker workforce, and many businesses shutting down, which hurts the economy as a whole.
  3. We need to shift our thinking from trying to minimize known costs to understanding that the costs of inaction can be much higher and more damaging.

The road from serfdom

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 7 implied HN points • 06 Mar 24
💾 History Reforms Agriculture Political Conflict Economic Impact
  1. Institutional changes can be designed to buy in established interests using gains from reform which may avoid prolonged and violent conflicts for reform.
  2. The development of liberal institutions for long-term economic growth can present challenges for countries with existing poor institutions as seen in the Western Europe, East Asia, and North America regions.
  3. Instituting successful and lasting institutional reforms requires careful management of suboptimal institutions to effect change quickly and avoid backlash, as demonstrated by the agricultural reforms in Tsarist Russia under Pyotr Stolypin.

Power to the Immigrant

Ben’s Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 03 Aug 22
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Immigration Policy Entrepreneurship Public Policy Economic Impact Cultural Diversity
  1. Immigrants are a big part of the workforce and entrepreneurship in the U.S. They bring skills and a strong work ethic, often helping to build successful businesses.
  2. Many successful companies were started by immigrants, showing that they have unique insights and resilience that lead to innovation and growth.
  3. There is a need for better immigration policies to support immigrant entrepreneurs. More opportunities and resources could help these individuals contribute even more to the economy.

It's About Time Traffic Engineers Included the Cost of Traffic Violence in Their Calculations

Exasperated Infrastructures • 12 implied HN points • 12 May 23
🌞 Climate & Environment Economic Impact Cost Analysis Safety measures
  1. Traffic engineers should include the cost of traffic violence in their project calculations to prioritize safety.
  2. Calculating the cost of lost productivity from motor vehicle incidents reveals the substantial economic impact of traffic violence.
  3. Factoring in the value of a human life can help in justifying safety improvements and preventing unnecessary tragedies.

Cities and Covid Reopening

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 39 implied HN points • 04 Aug 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic response Data Analysis Economic Impact
  1. Tailored policies based on locality-specific data are crucial for effective Covid-19 management in different cities.
  2. Different US cities have unique network structures affecting the impact of various policies like work from home or essential work.
  3. Understanding city network structures and demographics can help predict policy outcomes, and this data remains relatively stable over time.

Depopulation and Decadence

The Permanent Problem • 4 HN points • 10 Jan 24
🌍 World Politics Demographics Capitalism Globalization Economic Impact Cultural shift
  1. There is a global trend of declining fertility rates, leading to population shrinkage in many countries.
  2. The decline in fertility rates is a fundamental issue affecting society's ability to innovate, be productive, and flourish.
  3. The author suggests that the current capitalist system is failing globally as an engine of social progress, and alternative social arrangements are needed.

Unlock a Housing Boom through Depreciation Bonuses

Arpitrage • 2 HN points • 13 Feb 24
💼 Business Real Estate Investment Economic Impact Housing Market
  1. Investment taxes play a crucial role in addressing the housing crisis by impacting housing affordability.
  2. Tax laws in the 1980s, especially changes in depreciation schedules, significantly influenced commercial real estate production.
  3. Adjusting accounting rules, like shortening depreciation schedules or allowing full expensing, could encourage a construction boom and potentially reduce rents.

Whither paper?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 19 implied HN points • 14 Aug 20
🕹 Technology Workplace dynamics Online Trends Economic Impact Remote work
  1. The Covid-19 pandemic may accelerate the move towards a paperless office, as people adapt to working digitally and without physical paperwork.
  2. Despite the decline in paper use, demand for wood pulp products, such as cardboard boxes for online deliveries, remains strong.
  3. The pandemic has forced organizations to transition away from paper processes, leading to a potential long-term shift towards digital alternatives.

World Economic Forum A.I. on Future of Jobs Report

Machine Economy Press • 2 implied HN points • 03 May 23
🕹 Technology AI Future of work Economic Impact Tech Layoffs
  1. The World Economic Forum predicts that nearly 25% of jobs will be disrupted in the next five years due to AI and other factors.
  2. Employers expect to create 69 million new jobs by 2027 while eliminating 83 million positions, resulting in a net loss of 14 million jobs.
  3. Up to 26 million jobs in record-keeping and administrative positions are expected to be eliminated as companies adopt AI technologies in the next five years.

Rust belt of tech in America

Madhur’s Writings • 3 HN points • 16 Feb 23
💼 Business Economic Impact Remote work Small businesses Tech industry Urban Development
  1. The shift to remote work due to Covid has negatively impacted small businesses in downtown areas.
  2. Tech layoffs and remote work culture are contributing to the decline of social aspects and liveliness in big cities.
  3. Analogies to the Rust Belt area show how remote work could lead to population decline and decline in city vibrancy.

no. 47: prices we're still paying

let them eat cake • 2 HN points • 18 Nov 21
🍲 Food & Drink Economic Impact
  1. Ensuring that most hawkers make enough to live on is crucial to preserve hawker culture across generations.
  2. The concept of a living wage, which goes beyond a minimum wage, is important in ensuring people can meet basic needs and be active participants in society.
  3. Calculating the cost of living for hawkers in Singapore, including factors like housing, savings, and taxes, is essential in determining fair pricing for hawker food.

Social distancing at the end

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 28 Oct 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic response Vaccines Social Distancing Economic Impact Public Health Measures
  1. Vaccines and treatments for the pandemic take time to distribute and may not be perfect when they become available
  2. People's social distancing behavior changes when a vaccine is on the horizon, impacting economic activity
  3. The impact of a vaccine versus a treatment on social distancing behavior and economic activity can differ significantly

Largely out of government control

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Oct 20
🏥 Health Politics Pandemic response Government intervention Economic Impact Public Health Herd Immunity
  1. Government actions have limited impact on the overall course of the pandemic, with people and their behaviors playing a significant role.
  2. Advocates of 'letting it rip' to achieve herd immunity quickly overlook the potential long-term health costs and economic impacts of such a strategy.
  3. Voluntary social distancing and population density have been crucial factors in influencing the spread of the virus, showing that personal behavior plays a key role in controlling the outbreak.

The Problem With YIMBY Economics

Informer • 0 implied HN points • 24 Sep 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political divide Land use Economic Impact
  1. YIMBYs advocate for expanding US housing supply, but removing private housing development restrictions may not be the solution.
  2. There is a significant shift on the Left towards supporting pro-density public policy for affordable housing.
  3. Economists like Ed Glaeser and Matt Yglesias argue that restrictive land-use policies hinder affordable housing in big cities.

Will a COVID-19 vaccine exacerbate the economic downturn?

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jul 20
🏥 Health Politics Vaccine distribution Economic Impact Public Behavior Pandemic response
  1. Many are pinning hopes on a COVID-19 vaccine to end the pandemic, but the distribution process may lead to a prolonged economic downturn.
  2. The arrival of a vaccine could bring about changes in social distancing behaviors, leading to negative impacts on consumer activities and businesses.
  3. While a vaccine may be beneficial in the long run, in the short term, it could pose challenges for the economy, requiring preparation for the potential consequences.

A War Footing: Surfing the Curve

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 14 Mar 20
🏥 Health & Wellness Pandemic response Economic Impact Policy Solutions
  1. In dealing with Covid-19, there is a need to balance between minimizing short-term costs and minimizing medium-term costs, which presents a conflict.
  2. Flattening the curve is not enough to combat the pandemic effectively and can be very costly due to its impact on the health care system capacity.
  3. To address the limitations of flattening the curve, there is a critical need for a dramatic, immediate increase in healthcare capacity like what was done in Wuhan, calling for a war-like mindset.

On the Move

The Snap Forward • 0 implied HN points • 19 Feb 24
🌞 Climate & Environment Climate change Migration Displacement Economic Impact Global impact
  1. Climate change is leading to massive human migration as people seek safety and opportunity in a planet facing crisis.
  2. The book 'On the Move' by Abrahm Lustgarten discusses the systemic threats caused by climate change and the impacts of displacement on millions of Americans.
  3. The implications of climate migration extend beyond America, affecting one in three people globally by 2070 and leading to economic, demographic, and societal transitions that must be addressed.

2008-09 Financial Crisis: US Is Not Japan

Japan Economy Watch • 0 implied HN points • 28 May 09
💰 Finance Policy response Economic Impact
  1. The 2008-09 financial crisis in the United States is not comparable to Japan's 'lost decade' due to different primary problems and causes.
  2. The consequences of the 2008 financial crisis in the US will be different from Japan's slump in the 1990s because the cause, scope, and response of policymakers differ significantly.
  3. The financial dysfunction in the US was caused by policy mistakes, unlike the structural flaws that led to Japan's crisis.

Inflation is here

Rob Leclerc • 0 implied HN points • 13 Mar 21
💰 Finance Inflation Economic Impact Mortgages Interest Rates
  1. Inflation is a looming crisis, with unseen impacts in traditional measures like CPI, causing economic and social turmoil.
  2. Low mortgage rates are fueling a housing market frenzy, with limited supply driving prices sky-high, putting pressure on buyers and sellers.
  3. Potential consequences include prolonged generational effects, hyperinflation risks, and exacerbation of wealth inequality between different age groups.

Did William Jennigs Bryan's "cross of gold" speech crash the economy?

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 11 Oct 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Political Rhetoric Economic Impact Historical Events Political parties Election Analysis
  1. The 'Cross of Gold' speech showed the Democratic Party's shift towards supporting silver over gold, which worried some investors.
  2. The speech didn't directly crash the economy, but it reflected bigger changes in the party that could have economic effects.
  3. Bryan was a surprising candidate, and his strong speech energized the silver delegates and changed party dynamics.

The Corporate Tax Burden: Facts and Fiction

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 21 Apr 21
💰 Finance Economic Impact
  1. When corporate tax rates go up, companies might report less taxable income. This can make it seem like they are not paying as much in taxes as expected.
  2. Not all companies are affected equally by changes in tax rates. Some can use strategies, like taking on more debt, to lower their overall tax burden.
  3. The way taxes are structured can lead to misunderstandings about what companies actually pay. It's important to look at effective tax rates, not just the stated corporate tax rate, to get a clearer picture.

Data Update 1 for 2021: A (Data) Look Back at a Most Forgettable Year (2020)!

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 09 Jan 21
💰 Finance Data Analysis Market Trends Investment Strategies Corporate Finance Economic Impact
  1. Data is most valuable when it's unique and exclusive. If everyone has access to the same data, it loses its worth.
  2. It's important to look at the big picture with data to avoid tunnel vision. By understanding industry norms, investors can better judge individual stocks.
  3. Data can expose misinformation and challenge common beliefs. Relying on facts rather than opinions helps clarify the truth in financial discussions.

A Viral Market Update X: A Corporate Life Cycle Perspective

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jun 20
💼 Business Market Analysis Corporate strategy Financial trends Investment Risk Economic Impact
  1. Fear and greed greatly influence the stock market, especially during uncertain times like pandemics. These emotions can cause significant market ups and downs, making it hard to predict what will happen next.
  2. Young companies are bouncing back faster and more robustly from market downturns compared to older firms. This might be because young businesses are seen as higher growth opportunities, attracting more investor interest.
  3. Access to capital is crucial for businesses in any life stage, but young and declining companies are especially vulnerable during crises. If they can't get funding, they risk shutting down or being sold for less than they are worth.

January 2018 Data Update 3: Taxing Questions on Value

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 12 Jan 18
💰 Finance Tax policy Corporate Finance Economic Impact Investment strategy Market Analysis
  1. The 2017 Tax Reform lowered the corporate tax rate significantly from 35% to 21%, affecting how much companies pay in taxes.
  2. Changes to how foreign income is taxed allow companies to bring money back to the US more easily, which can impact growth and investment.
  3. The tax reform creates winners and losers among sectors, benefiting those with high taxes and physical assets, while hurting those with low taxes and high debt.

The Oil Price Shock: Primary, Secondary and Collateral Effects

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 22 Dec 14
💰 Finance Market Analysis Economic Impact Investment Strategies Oil industry
  1. Predicting oil prices is very hard, and even experts often get it wrong. This shows that forecasting in the commodity market doesn't always lead to clear answers.
  2. When oil prices change, some people and companies benefit while others lose. It takes time to see the full effects of these changes on the economy.
  3. Investors usually panic during big price shifts, leading to poor decisions. It's better to think strategically rather than react emotionally to price drops in oil.

Private Equity: Too disruptive or not disruptive enough?

Musings on Markets • 0 implied HN points • 18 Oct 12
💼 Business Private Equity Investment Corporate Governance Economic Impact
  1. Private equity (PE) can help fix poorly managed and undervalued companies. PE investors target these firms to improve their performance and governance.
  2. The performance of PE investors varies a lot; while some do very well, others do poorly. This means that not all PE firms are equally successful in generating returns.
  3. Critics of PE argue that it can lead to job losses, but the evidence is mixed. While jobs at targeted firms may drop, new jobs can also emerge in other businesses they invest in.

How Much Could Repair Save Americans? (Hint: It’s a Really Big Number.)

Fight to Repair • 0 implied HN points • 19 Jan 21
💼 Business Consumer Rights Legislation Economic Impact
  1. The economic argument for repair highlights significant savings for Americans, with potential benefits of around $300 per household per year, totaling $36.6 billion annually.
  2. Access to robust repair options can reduce the cost of owning electronics by almost a quarter (22%) for the average American family.
  3. Legislators should consider the economic impact of promoting a repair economy, which not only benefits consumers, but also creates jobs and supports the local economy.

Variance

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 26 Jun 21
🏥 Health & Wellness COVID-19 Vaccination Economic Impact Mental health Preventive measures
  1. Living with Covid as endemic means acknowledging variance in outbreaks and economic disruption.
  2. Continued outbreaks will disrupt plans and economic activity, leading to supply constraints and potential inflation in the near future.
  3. Investing in systems like rapid screening can help minimize disruptions, but adoption must happen before serious outbreaks occur.

One year on ...

Joshua Gans' Newsletter • 0 implied HN points • 12 Mar 21
🏥 Health & Wellness Economic Impact
  1. Reflecting on the past year, the author shares personal experiences of adjusting to the pandemic and transitioning to remote work.
  2. The author discusses their journey of writing books and starting a newsletter focused on COVID-19's economic aspects, sharing insights and predictions for the future.
  3. Predictions for the next year include expectations around vaccination progress, the future of COVID-19, potential health care shifts, and reflections on post-pandemic changes in work and society.